Bankei:
I think this has to be a case of gender bias, as it is making one
gender subordinate to the other gender. These rules on apply to women
who already had many vinaya rules more than the men.
If you compare the Bhikkhuni Patimokkha with the Bhikkhu Patimokkha, you can see that beyond the numer of rules thay are the same. It means, that there are not more duties for women than men. By the way, the first nuns was attacked living outside temple as monks, and they were also blanks of deceives.
> However, we are also aware of the eight garudhamma rules, which
somehow place the bhikkhunis on a "lower tier" than their male
counterparts. Is this a special case of a gender bias?
For some scholars it is so. Dhammananda Bhikkhuni argues that they were laid down to protect Bhikkhuni Sangha and due that the Bhikkhuni Sangha arose couple years later Bhikkhu Sangha, it is understandble that it was in a subordinated position. You can read it in Women in Buddhism, answer 7.
But personally i do no think that it is a gender bias per se, we cannot put away the social structure and condition in India at that time...and it did not favor women.
sabrinap
________________________________
De: Ong Yong Peng <
palismith@...>
Para:
Pali@yahoogroups.com
Enviado: mar, marzo 2, 2010 8:20:24 AM
Asunto: [Pali] Re: Gender bias in Buddhism?
Dear Bankei,
I believe this discussion requires some understanding of the socio-cultural settings of Buddha's days, and the development of the Sangha (and the Vinaya) under the direct ministry of the Buddha.
Again, I have to admit little knowledge of the Vinaya. So, I do not expect an "explosive" discussion, and I suppose there are good articles, books, etc. that we can share with each other on various views and opinions.
Accepting female monastics was something very bold or revolutionary of the Buddha, and none of his contemporaries is known to have done the same. In fact, in those days, even certain men were denied rights to worship, let alone women. So, for the Buddha to accept female disciples into his order was breaking one big taboo of the ancient Indian society.
metta,
Yong Peng.
--- In Pali@... com, Bankei wrote:
I think this has to be a case of gender bias, as it is making one gender subordinate to the other gender. These rules on apply to women who already had many vinaya rules more than the men.
> However, we are also aware of the eight garudhamma rules, which somehow place the bhikkhunis on a "lower tier" than their male counterparts. Is this a special case of a gender bias?
____________________________________________________________________________________
¡Obtén la mejor experiencia en la web!
Descarga gratis el nuevo Internet Explorer 8.
http://downloads.yahoo.com/ieak8/?l=e1
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]